WIND-POLLINATED FLOWERS. 147 



of such insect-pollinated flowers as (he lily and 

 hibiscus, with such wind-pollinated flowers as 

 those of grasses and palms, will make these 

 differences clear. 



3. Wind-pollinated flowers may, just as 

 insect-pollinated flowers, have stamens and 

 stigmas in the same or in separate flowers. 

 Sour grass and Guinea grass are examples of 

 the former class ; maize, and many palms of 

 the latter. In the maize the ' tassel ' at the top 

 of the plant consists of a group of staminate 

 flowers from which the pollen is readily shaken 

 out and blown about by the least breeze. 

 The beautiful * silk,' which protrudes from 

 the top of every young cob, is a bunch of 

 stigmas, which, being widely spread out, readily 

 catch the pollen grains as they float in the 

 air. 



FRl'ITS AND SEEDS. 



1. The production of seeds is the most 

 important object in the life of most plants, 

 because in their natural condition this is the 

 chief method by which they multiply. When 

 the flower has been pollinated and fer- 

 tilized the petals and other non-essential parts 

 fade and wither away, their use being over. 

 The pistil developes into the fruit containing 



